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(No Model.)

E E. BAWSEL.

SAFETYDEVIGE FOR ELEVAIDR SHAPTS.

No. 274,257. l Patented Mar. 20, 1883.

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leasing appliances.

UNITED" STATES PATENT CFFICE.

' EDWARD E. BAWSEL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNCR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN A. BEAVER, OF

SAME PLACE.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent an. 74,257, dated March 20, 1883.

Application filed January as, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. BAWSEL, of Washington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevator-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to reduce the danger resulting from the presence of elevatorshafts or other vertical wells in buildings; and this object I accomplish by providing such shafts or wells with doors or hatches, and with appliances whereby the same maybe instantly closed without direct manipulation or the expenditure of any appreciable force from different parts of the building.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, showing the shaft'of an elevator and the cage, the hatches, and retaining and releasing appliances. Fig. 2 is a detached enlarged .view of a hatch and retaining and re- Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 1 2, Fig. l.

It is well known that the well or shaft ofan elevator, especially if closed at the sides, constitutes a continuous flue, the draft through which tends to fan the flames in case of a fire, and insure its spreading with great rapidity. To prevent this, shafts have been provided with doors or hatches and with means for closing the same in. case of fire, such means, however, requiring the operator to exercise a considerable degree of force, and to occupy a position in proximity to the well, which is dangerous and sometimes unattainable.

Automatic means for closing the hatches have been proposed-as, for instance, the use of. retaining-ropes which burn away and per- 'mit the hatches to drop-a result which can only be attained when the fire hasacquired a most undesirable headway.

I avoid the necessity of using any appreciable physical exertion by combining with the retaining 'devices an electrical appliance, operated by completing or breaking a circuit by means of a usual key or switch, which may be operated by simple pressure of the finger, which operation may be effected as readily from a distant point-the desk of a hotel clerk,

for instance-or fromthe outside of a building,

point in immediate proximity tothe per edges of the hatches and hold them in place, the rear ends of the catches being heaviest and constituting each the armature of an electro-magnet, D, within a closed circuit, and operating to hold up the heavy end of the catch and retain the hatch in its vertical position.. 7

By using a magnet in a closed circuit the electrical appliances are prevented from becoming inoperativewithout discovery, as weakening of the current or breaking of the circuit will cause the rear end of the catches to drop and release the hatches.

A spring, 6, may be arranged to be compressed as the hatch assumes a vertical position, so as to insure its falling as soon as the catch is withdrawn from it, and stops a or chains 1; may serve to arrest the hatch when it reaches a horizontal position.

It will be apparent that circuit breakers or switches f may be arranged at different points, adjacent to or distant from the well, so that any one of them will serve tomake or break the current according'as an open or closed circuit is employed.

It is very seldom that the rectangular space within the walls of the shaft is free from breaks or obstructions, there being generally guides g and one or more operating-ropes, 'i.

' To employ the hatches without necessitat ing any change in the usual appliances, I shape or out such hatches, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to fit the various parts when in a horizontal position, and also conform thereto when vertical, slits e being made so that when the hatch falls forward it will not deflect the operating-rope.

Where it is desired to insure the automatic release of the hatches, I arrange within the upper part of the well a thermostat,I, connected' to or forming part of a circuit breaker or key, so that any increase above the normal temperature will break the-circuit and cause the hatches to fall long before the flames could 5 reach the shaft.

'-.,I claim 1 The combination, with an elevator-shaft, of a series of hatches, a detent for retaining each hatch in a position to avoid interference 10 with the movements of the cage, keys in an electrical circuit, and electrical devices in said circuit, whereby the detents are released from .the hatches when the circuit is completed, or broken by the manipulation of a key, substanr tially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the hatches and detents, of the'sprin gs e, for the purpose specifled.

3. The combination of the safety-hatches, electrical detents, thermostat, and appliances 20 whereby the latter is caused to break or complete the circuit upon any undue increase of temperature, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two su'b- 2 5 scribing witnesses.

EDWARD E. BAWSEL.

Witnesses: 7

CHARLES E. Fosrnn, H. A. HALL. 

